Apprentices revamp play park in bid to win challenge

The team of young men and women aged between 16 and 26 is currently undertaking a range of apprenticeships including electronic engineering, business administration and supply chain management.

They hope to follow in the footsteps of Dale apprentices who won the prestigious nationwide Brathay Apprentice Challenge Award in 2015.

The project involves a complete clean-up of the park with attention being paid to the play area. The play equipment will be revitalised; rust will be removed from the play equipment and a fresh coat of paint added to the swings, climbing frames and see-saw.

Flower beds will be replanted and wildlife habitat boxes added to the area. The apprentices have sourced external skills and manpower to help deliver the project.

Local National Trust Ranger, Zoe Frank, will be training the team to build wildlife habitat boxes and the 2nd ELO Scout Group is helping with the construction of the boxes.

Team captain Mickyle Clark, a Business Administration Apprentice, said:“In previous years, the Brathay Apprentice Challenge has asked participants to choose a community project to work on as part of their project; this year the community project has to benefit young people.

“We discussed different project ideas and chose the playpark as we feel we have the right skills for the project and believe we can make a very positive difference in the village.”

Mick Almond, Secretary for East and West Ayton Playing Fields, said: “We are extremely grateful for the offer of time and commitment given by the apprentices towards improving what is a very popular play area as well as picnic area for the parishioners of East and West Ayton. National Apprentice Week is next week and the Dale team will be helping at events including Successful Careers at Coventry University Scarborough on Wednesday and events at Derwent Training, Lady Lumley’s and Graham School.